Brighton 4-0 Kauno Žalgiris: Report, result and goals as Seagulls cruise to easy win

UEFA Europa Conference League,
League stage – 1

Brighton
BRI

Kaunas Zalgiris
SPY

American Express Stadium

Mikkel Redder, Denmark

G. Rutter 41′
J. Hinshelwood 45+2′
G. Rutter 53′
M. O’Riley 67′

Georginio Rutter scored two goals Brighton they started theirs League of Conferences campaign with a comfortable 4-0 win over Lithuanian FK Kauno Zalgiris at the Amex Stadium.

Jack Hinshelwood and Matt O’Riley were also on target as Fabian Hurzeler’s side made light work of their opponents on their return to European football.

Brighton controlled the early stages but had to wait until the 41st minute to go ahead.

Ibrahim Osman provided the assist for Rutter, who opened the scoring to give the home side a deserved lead after a spell of sustained pressure.

The Seagulls doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time, with Rutter turning provider for Hinshelwood, who found the net in the 47th minute.

That goal left the visitors with a difficult task heading into the interval, having struggled to create meaningful chances against their Premier League opponents.

Brighton picked up where they left off after the restart and it took just eight minutes to add a third.

Rutter got his second goal of the night in the 53rd minute, again benefiting from Osman’s involvement as the winger registered another assist.

With a three-goal cushion, Brighton were able to play more freely as Kauno Zalgiris continued to struggle to find a way through the home defence.

O’Riley completed the scoring in the 67th minute, adding a fourth to put the result beyond doubt with more than 20 minutes to go.

Brighton finished the closing stages without conceding, securing a clean sheet along with their four goals.

The result gives Hurzeler’s side three points from their first league game and an encouraging start to their latest European campaign.

The UEFA Europa Conference League table

Next matches of Brighton and Kauno Žalgiris